Jyles Tucker Stepping In!

In 6 games during the 2007 regular season, Jyles Tucker had 3.5 sacks which translates to about 9.5 sacks for 15 games. In my opinion, Jyles Tucker will finish with more than that, but time will tell. Our Defense will be fine and we do not need Junior Seau.

Over the years, the Chargers have had their share of triumph in finding undrafted free agents who have come in and contributed to the team’s success. As Jyles Tucker enters his second professional season, he appears to be the next in a long line that includes Kassim Osgood, Antonio Gates, Kris Dielman, Jacques Cesaire and Stephen Cooper.

A standout defensive end at WakeForest, Tucker was not selected in last April’s draft, but instead signed a free agent contract with the Chargers. He transitioned to outside linebacker in the Bolts’ 3-4 scheme and was impressive enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the Chargers’ practice squad. When a shoulder injury ended linebacker Carlos Polk’s season in November, Tucker was elevated to the 53-man roster and he made the most of his opportunity.

In five regular-season contests, Tucker recorded six special teams tackles and provided a spark off the bench on defense. He recorded a half sack in his first professional game at Kansas City Dec. 2 and four weeks later he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a career performance in the Bolts’ regular-season finale against their arch-rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Tucker sacked Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell three times and during his second sack, he forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball in the end zone for his first-ever NFL touchdown.

Tucker is a New Jersey native and wisely took every opportunity to learn from another Garden State native, linebacker Shaun Phillips. Tucker could regularly be seen during and after practice chatting with Phillips and fellow OLB Shawne Merriman, who willingly helped their young pupil along the way.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed two-year contract with Chargers as undrafted rookie, May 4, 2007.

2007: Played first career game on special teams Nov. 25 vs. Baltimore after being signed from practice squad…shared fourth-quarter sack eight-yard sack with Shaun Phillips Dec. 2 at K.C….tied Tim Dobbins team high with three special teams tackles against Detroit Dec. 16…named AFC Defensive Player of Week and GMC Defensive Player of Week following coming out party at Oakland Dec. 30 with three sacks and first-career NFL touchdown…started series in third quarter with nine-yard sack on first-down…then on third-and-13 play, sacked Russell and forced fumble, and loose ball rolled into end zone where Tucker recovered…was first touchdown since freshman year at Wake Forest when he sacked and stripped current Charger teammate and former Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and returned ball 12 yards for touchdown…later sealed 30-17 win over Raiders with late fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble on fourth-and-two play with under one minute remaining in game.

COLLEGE: Honorable mention All-ACC as senior…named ACC Rookie of Week after first career start vs. Clemson during which he stripped QB Charlie Whitehurst of ball and returned it 12 yards for touchdown…finished career with 85 tackles, nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss…played at Wake Forest from 2003-07…majored in religion.

PERSONAL: Born in Morristown, New Jersey…attended Hargrave Military Academy after graduating from Morristown Beard High School…four year starter at Morristown as defensive end and quarterback…named to New Jersey’s All-Prep School Team…started four years at small forward on school’s basketball team and competed in track, winning conference championship in shot put.